MTV’s Hottest MCs In The Game list has received a ton of criticism from fans and rappers, but Kendrick Lamar believes that the list is an “important” part of hip hop as it makes things much more “competitive.”

“It’s very important for hip-hop,” Kendrick Lamar explained in the interview.” “I love that they have debates like that. We need that. It’s competitive. Even though we doing these collaborations and stuff like that and we cool, at the same time, this is still rap. It’s still competitive and I’m trying to compete with everybody to be the best.”

After A$AP Rocky expressed his feelings about the list earlier in the week, stating he’d rather not be on the list than take the number 8 slot, Kendrick explained how this is also an important aspect to the list.

“When people feel like they need to make their comments, I feel that’s needed,” said K-Dot. “You’re supposed to feel like you’re the best ’cause if you don’t, you gon’ get stepped on ’cause it’s a jungle out there.”

So how does Kendrick Lamar feel about Kanye West being #7 on the list? He agrees that Ye deserves a high spot on the list citing the work he’s put in during the last few years. “It’s Kanye. He’s been putting in work for years.”